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Meet the Staff of Galloway JefcoatWatch as some of the staff members at Galloway Jefcoat share their part and experiences at this Lafayette law firm. From all walks of life the staff members at Galloway Jefcoat all have something in common; a love for their job and the work they do. ...

How To Share the Road With An 18-WheelerIn our modern society, driving with trucks is an everyday occurrence that we all have to accept and deal with. During high-speed driving on the freeway, however, driving next to or behind a large 18-wheeler truck can be an intimidating and ...

Louisiana Class Action Lawsuit Disputes State’s Public Defense System

Many states in America have corrupt or failing public defense systems, and Louisiana has one of the worst ones. For the past ten years, findings have shown that public defender workloads are too high and are resulting in limited time with clients, unprepared cases, and scheduling issues that prevent the criminal and civil courts from operating properly. An East Baton Rouge judge has allowed a class action lawsuit to move forward that is challenging the “constitutional effectiveness” of Louisiana’s public defense system.

What’s Wrong with Louisiana’s Public Defense System?

This lawsuit was filed in February of this year when 13 inmates claimed that their constitutional rights were denied as a result of the failing and under-funded public defense system. The suit was filed on behalf of the inmates’ public defense attorneys.

Louisiana is the only state in the country that depends on traffic ticket revenue, court fees and fines to fund the whole public defense system. Because of this, the system has been broken into two groups; those with enough money to have actual essential representation and those who are poor and just put through the meaningless system of lacking representation. Anyone should be able to receive proper and acceptable legal representation in court, and this lawsuit seeks to reveal this growing issue. The suit also seeks certification from the court for protection for poor Louisiana residents that have faced criminal charges and deserve equal rights to the Constitution. Lastly, the class action suit asks to assign a monitor to supervise the state’s public defense system until it has improved its funding for adequate representation.

Galloway Jefcoat specializes in class action lawsuits. If you and a group of people are interested in filing a lawsuit, contact our attorneys to get the representation you deserve.

The law firm of Galloway Jefcoat, LLP is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, serving the communities of the Acadiana Region, including Rayne, Crowley and Abbeville. Our attorneys represent residents in Jennings, Church Point and Breaux Bridge, with successful verdicts and settlements for those in Maurice, Broussard and Youngsville. With office locations in Lafayette and Lake Charles, we assist Sulphur, Calcasieu and Carencro residents. New Iberia, St. Martinville and Jeanerette residents can depend on our lawyers for quality representation. Our services also reach Scott, Opelousas and Franklin LA. Since 1996, our firm has turned wrongs into rights for individuals and families in Lafayette Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Landry Parish and Vermillion Parish in addition to Acadia Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish and Evangeline Parish.